The Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL), officially inaugurated on 24 March 2011, is a joint centre jointly owned by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), part of the UAM+CSIC Campus of International Excellence (CEI).

The center is structured into three research departments: Food Bioactivity and Analysis, Food Biotechnology and Microbiology, and Production and Characterization of Novel Foods. These departments serve as an organizational framework to facilitate research activities and foster scientific interaction and collaboration among the institute's members. The center and its researchers maintain active collaborations and exchange programs with universities, research centers, and laboratories worldwide. The ultimate goal is the application of food science to promote health, in accordance with the needs of the population and economic development, with the contribution of high value-added products for industry, the attraction and training of young scientists and new professionals, remaining at the service of social welfare and quality of life.